Centrifugal separator.



D- B. WESTON.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV-28, I913,

LM'KW, Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

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M W i I i P lit DAVID B. WESTON, 0F SHARON, MASSACHUSETTS.

GENTBIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Nov. 2(8 1917.

Application filed November 28, 1913. Serial No. 803,456.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID B. WESTON, citizen of the United States, and resident of Sharon, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Separators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to centrifugal separators and is intended to provide a machine for economically and efiiciently separating a liquid body, containing several constituents of different specific gravity, by a continuous operation. The machine is particularly adapted to the separation of sludge which contains solid matter as its heaviest constituent suspended in a liquid medium also containing fat or grease as its lightest constituent ut is, of course, applicable to the treatment of other liquid bodies containing light and heavy constituents.

To this end the invention consists in a centrifugal receptacle 7 provided with two outlets or sets of outlets arranged at difierent distances respectively from the axis of the machine, with a baflie or deflector arranged to prevent the escape of the lighter constituent through the outermost outlets, while allowing the lighter constituent, such as the fat or grease to escape through the innermost outlet.

Further improvements consist in the con-. struction and arrangement of the wings and bafile plates by which the action of the liquid in the receptacle is controlled.

In the accompanying drawings T have illustrated several forms of separators embodying the principles of this invention in whichv Figure 1 is a central elevation showing the application of the invention to a centrifugal machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a portion of the receptacle and curb;

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of the invention with the feed at thebottom and the outlet at the top;

Fig. 4 is a central elevation showing'a modified arrangement of wings and baflle plates; Fig. and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate details of con- 5 is a sectional plan view thereof;

struction respectively of the baffle and the wing construction.

According to the form of invention illustrated in Fig. 1, I employ a centrifugal receptacle a with an imperforate outer wall having the annular cap a and the annular bottom 11. whose largecentral aperture receives the spider b, which secures the receptacle to the rotary gyratory shaft 6 suspended from the overhead bearing 6 In this form of the invention the radial wings 0 extend from top to bottom of the peripheral portion there is preferably provided an annular deflector plate 03 below the point where the inlet pipe 6 discharges into the upper peripheral portion of the receptacle.

Near the outlet or bottom end of the machine is placed the annular baffle plate or member I", which is extended inwardly beyond the edge of the large central opening in the bottom a and which is extended outwardly beyond the small outlet or discharge pipe 9.

I also provide one or more additional outlet pipes 72. whose inner ends project inside of the line of the outlet 9, and whose outer ends are carried through the wall of the receptacle at a point materially farther from the center than its inlet end, so as to secure a centrifugal action. The inlet end of the discharge tube It may be provided with a screw-thread nipple or extension h, so that it may be adjusted to a point nearer to or farther from the axis of the receptacle, but it should be so positioned that its inner end should terminate in a line or plane intermediate of the outer and inner edges of the baffle plate f and at the same time nearer to the center of the receptacle than the outlet g.

The surrounding curb or casing 11 beside having the large central discharge orifice, has in its bottom a dividing annular partition 6' forming an outer and inner trou h, having separate discharge outlets i 41 e discharge outlet i is provided with alter nate offtakepipes and controlled by a threeway cock 6*, or otherwise, so that the liquid discharged into the inner trough may be passed to different receptacles, as hereinafter explained.

The flow of the liquid to be treated of the receptacle, and

Bill

lltlti valve 6'. Normally this valve is adjusted after the machine is started, so as" to maintain the discharge of say the water content of the liquid continually through the discharge outlet 9, and not to exceed the discharge capacity of the outlet or outlets g. When the receptacle is rotated, the liquid is built-up vertically against the outer wall until suflicient has been introduced to build out to and beyond the outside edge of the baffle f, after which the heavier liquid constituent, say for example the water begins to discharge through the outlet 9, the lighter fat or grease being held back against escaping by means of the baflle f, and the solid matter, if there be any, being, accumulated against the outside wall of the receptacle. When the lighter constituent has accumulated to a sufiicient degree to extend beyond the inlet end of the discharge tube h, it escapes by centrifugal action through said discharge tube into the outer trough of the curb and may be drawn off through the of take 71 As in many cases this light constituent is of substantial value, to avoid waste when the machine is stopped, the valve 6' may be opened to a wider extent to allow the inflow of a greater volume of liquid than can escape through the outlet passages g. This results in advancing the line of separation of the two liquid constituents farther toward the center until the line of the heavier liquid is practically flush with the inlet end of discharge tube It, thus allowing practically all of the accumulated grease or light constituent to escape from the receptacle which otherwise would be carried oil and lost through the central orifice in the bottom, when the machine is slowed down and stopped.

In the case of liquids where there is also a solid constituent, it is possible when the machine is stopped to scoop out or discharge the solid content through the central orifice in the bottom between the arms and the spider b.

In Fig. 3, I have illustrated the same principle applied to a centrifugal separator having the bottom feed. In this case the centrif- 'ugal receptacle m has its bottom extended outwardly and inwardly far enough to receive the valve inlet pipe 0, while the annular cap m is provided with one or more centrifugal discharge tubes 10 whose inlet end is arranged above the baflie plate m'intermediate of its outer and inner edges. The radial wings m asbefore, extend from top to bottom. A deflector ring m may also be employed to cause the entering liquid to pass to the lower peripheral portion of the receptacle. Y

The outlet or discharge tubes 9, by which the lighter constituent is carried off, may be arranged in any convenient location, so long as they have their inlet ends projecting inwardly farther than the inlet ends of the other discharge tubes [9, and have their outer ends carried through the wall of the receptacle at a point farther from the center than their inlet ends, to secure centrifugal action. The curb 1" is provided with a receiving trough 1" having a proper outlet for carrying off the liquid escaping through the outlet p, thus separating it from the lighter constituent which passes into the lower portion of the curb and escapes through the outlet 1. The principle of action is precisely the same as before, namely, the introduction of the liquid to be treated, during the normal operation of the machine in a quantity, not exceeding the outlet capacity of the tubes p, then before stopping the machine, the controlling valve or pipe 0 is opened farther, so as to cause practically all of the lighter constituent to overflow through the outlet q,

after which the machine may be stopped and the solid matter discharged through the bottom.

. In Figs 4 to 8, I have illustrated a form of separator having the inlet at the top, and the bottom outlets as in Fig. 1, but in this form the construction of the wings is materially altered to permit more convenient access to the interior of the receptacle and the easy removal of the baflie plate.

In this form of the invention, the receptacle a and the construction of the curb i is similar to the form shown in Fig. 1. Instead of having wings extending from top to bottom of the receptacle, two separate sets of wings s s are provided, located in the upper and lower peripheral portions of the receptacle. The lowermost wings s at their inner top edges are partly severed vertimay rest. The outer vertical portion of this edge projects upwardly to form a ledge or shoulder outside of the baflie ring to prevent the displacement of the baflie ring by centrifugal force. The bafile ring t is made preferably in two semi-circular sections over which a holding or clamping member If is passed, and by which they are held in operative position. This holding'member t is preferably in the shape of a U-shaped metal clip and may have smooth inside opposed flanges or ribs 25 against which the adjacent, ends of the sections of the'ring t abuts. At its rear or outer end the holding or fastening member t is notched, as shown at F, to interlock with the front edge of the shoulder 8 to prevent circumferential displacement.

When there is solid matter to be discharged, the attendant simply raises the baflle ring t slightly above the shoulder s of the supporting wing, and slips out the holdmamas a ing member 6, after which each section can be readily removed from the receptacle and as easily replaced in operative position therein.

In Fig. 6 the bathe sections 2? are shown formed with interlocking ears it through which a removable pintle u may be passed to form a hinged joint, so that either half may be swung up to give access to the spaces between. the wings s when discharging the solid. Withdrawal of the pins u permit complete removal from the basket.

What I claim is:

1. In a centrifugal separator the combination of a centrifugal receptacle, a feed pipe for introducing the liquid to be treated into the receptacle, an outlet formed in the receptacle for the discharge of the heavier liquid constituent, an annular battle member whose outer and inner edges lie respectively outside and inside said discharge outlet, a centrifugal offtake pipe arranged in the receptacle and secured thereto with its inner end located intermediate of the line of said discharge outlet and of the line of the inner edge of the baflie member, substantially as described.

2. In a centrifugal separator the combination of a centrifugal separator whose top and bottom members are provided with large central openings to permit access by the operator to the interior to discharge the walled-up solid matter through the bottom, means for feeding the liquid to be treated into the peripheral portion of the receptacle adjacent to one end thereof, said receptacle being provided with two discharge openings whose intake ends are arranged at different distances from thecentral axis in order to discharge separated liquids of different gravity, an annular bafile member located so that its inner and its outer edges respectively lie inside of and outside of the discharge openings, substantially as de scribed.

3. The combination of a centrifugal receptacle provided with upper and lower central openings in its top and bottom members respectively to enable the operator to discharge the separated solids through the bottom, said receptacle being provided with two liquid discharge outlets whose intake ends are located at different distances from the center and are distinct from the large central opening for the discharge of solids, means for preventing the lighter separated liquid from escaping through the large central opening and through the outermost liquid outlet whereby two liquids of different specific gravity may be normally discharged from the machine in operation while permitting the subsequent discharge of the solid content, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a rotary centrifugal receptacle having annular top and bottom members secured to a peripheral wall and leaving large central openings, means for delivering the liquid to be separated into the peripheral upper portion of the receptacle, a battle ring arranged so as to leave an annular clearance between its outer edge and the peripheral wall of the receptacle and with its inner edge projecting into the upper peripheral portion of said receptacle, a surrounding casing provided at its bottom portion with a central opening whose edge is approximately alined with the edge of the central opening in the bottom of said receptacle and having an annular partition wall arranged to divide the bottom portion of said curb into inner and outer troughs, said receptacle being provided with two discharge outlets arranged to deliver liquids of different gravity into the respective troughs, substantially as described.

6. In a centrifugal separator the combination of a centrifugal receptacle, a series of vertical wings arranged in the upper peripheral portion of said receptacle, another series of vertical wings arranged in the lower peripheral portion of said receptacle, the receptacle being provided with inlet and outlet openings for supplying and discharging the liquid, and a baflle member remov ablv resting upon the lower series of wings, the upper edges of said wings being formed to prevent the displacement of said bafile member when the machine is in operation.

7 In a centrifugal separator the combination with a centrifugal receptacle of a series of radial wings arranged in the lower peripheral portion of said receptacle and having their upper edges formed to receive and retain an annular baffle member, said baflle member being comprised of two sections. a holding clip for detachably connecting the sections together and holding them in place on the wings, substantially as described.

8. The annular balfle plate for a centrifugal receptacle comprising two semi-circular sections and U-shaped retaining members adapted to receive the adjacent ends of said bafiie member and hold them detachably together in operative position.

9. The annular bafile member comprising two semi-circular sections, and interlockin holding members comprising U-shapcd tit) Itltl clamps formed with radial extending hold- I ed to rest removably upon the ledge portions inside of the shoulder portions, substantially as described.

In Witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification. 15

DAVID B. WESTON.

In the presence of GEORGE A. ROCKWELL, GEO. GODDARD. 

